Tags: Reproductive Rights
The Catholic Church’s control over abortion policy has sparked a furious backlash in Poland
Posted: Thu, 12 Nov 2020 by Aleksandra Myslek
A ruling on abortion in Poland has again highlighted the government's damagingly close relationship with the Catholic Church. But many Poles are now questioning the church's power, says Aleksandra Myslek. Read More »
Human rights should not be at the mercy of the pope’s pontifications
Posted: Wed, 28 Oct 2020 by Megan Manson
Amid widespread interest in the pope's views on same-sex civil unions, Megan Manson says states shouldn't allow themselves to be used to further the Catholic Church's agendas. Read More »
Northern Ireland’s new abortion guidelines are welcome but should have gone further
Posted: Fri, 27 Mar 2020 by Dr Antony Lempert
As the government publishes a framework for the extension of abortion rights in NI, Dr Antony Lempert welcomes politicians' belated willingness to defend women's right to choose but laments several missed opportunities. Read More »
Election 2019: Secularism and the parties of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
Posted: Wed, 04 Dec 2019 by Megan Manson
Megan Manson continues our election analysis of parties' policies on secularist issues. This time she examines the policies of the major parties of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Read More »
Election 2019: Where do the major parties stand on secularist issues?
Posted: Thu, 28 Nov 2019 by Megan Manson
Megan Manson studies the main UK-wide parties' election manifestos – and says religion will continue to be a dividing force in UK politics during the next parliament. Read More »
Abortion ruling is a missed opportunity to recognise the disparity in women’s reproductive health rights across the UK
Posted: Thu, 15 Jun 2017 by Dr Antony Lempert
Ensuring that NHS abortion services are made available, free of charge, to UK citizens travelling from Northern Ireland would be a way of mitigating the harm caused by a disparity in women's reproductive health rights across the UK, argues Dr Antony Lempert.... Read More »
Irish National Maternity Hospital: “Keep your rosaries off my ovaries!”
Posted: Mon, 05 Jun 2017 by Keith Porteous Wood
The determination to give a hospital to a disgraced religious order, in spite of public outrage, is the very antithesis of secularism. But the episode has prompted calls for fundamental changes in the relationship between church and state, writes Keith Porteous... Read More »
Stop pharmacies refusing prescriptions for emergency contraception on religious grounds
Posted: Fri, 17 Feb 2017 by Keith Porteous Wood
With the regulator considering curtailing 'conscience' objections to contraception prescriptions, Keith Porteous Wood urges supporters to respond to the consultation in the interests of vulnerable patients.
The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) has launched... Read More »
The new UN Secretary General must not allow religion to override human rights
Posted: Fri, 21 Oct 2016 by Keith Porteous Wood
UN Secretary General designate needs to ignore Catholic pressure to row back on Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights and Gay Rights, writes Keith Porteous Wood.
The former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Guterres has been officially appointed as the next... Read More »
Channel 4’s Dispatches reveals intimidating tactics of US-inspired anti-abortion campaigners
Posted: Thu, 06 Oct 2016 by Dr Antony Lempert
Dr Antony Lempert of the Secular Medical Forum reacts to Channel 4 Dispatches' programme that showed the shock tactics UK anti-abortion campaigners are importing from America.
This week's Channel 4's Dispatches, presented by Cathy Newman, went undercover among... Read More »
Why “One of us”, the European anti-choice petition, should be monitored and tackled
Posted: Tue, 17 Sep 2013 by Julie Pernet
A statement on the "One of us" petition by Julie Pernet on behalf of the European Humanist Federation.
Launched in May 2012, the European citizens' initiative "One of us" has reached the required number of signatures — 1 million — to be presented... Read More »
Convictions for female genital mutilation: France - 100; Britain 0
Posted: Thu, 25 Jul 2013 by Joan Smith
Back in 1999, a group of MPs criticised the author Germaine Greer. They were astonished by her claim in a book that criminalising female genital mutilation (FGM) amounted to "an attack on cultural identity". The MPs described Greer's view as "simplistic and... Read More »
The “cutting season” and FGM in the UK: A national disgrace, a national shame
Posted: Tue, 02 Jul 2013 by Elizabeth O’Casey
Last month, a coalition of Egyptian NGOs launched a campaign, 'Kamla' (meaning 'complete' in Arabic), against female genital mutilation (FGM), after a botched operation resulted in the death of Egyptian teenager, Soheir Mohamed Al- Batea.
FGM is an intensely... Read More »
The “cutting season” and FGM in the UK: A national disgrace, a national shame
Posted: Tue, 02 Jul 2013 by Elizabeth O’Casey
Last month, a coalition of Egyptian NGOs launched a campaign, 'Kamla' (meaning 'complete' in Arabic), against female genital mutilation (FGM), after a botched operation resulted in the death of Egyptian teenager, Soheir Mohamed Al- Batea.
FGM is an intensely... Read More »
Conscientious objection in Scotland: a worrying precedent
Posted: Wed, 19 Jun 2013 by Louise Finer
With NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde seeking to appeal the ruling for the allowance of conscientious exemption from abortion procedures, Louise Finer of Reproductive Health Matters argues that judges must not forget the rights of women – to health, autonomy,... Read More »
I’m grateful every day that I live in a secular society – and so should we all be
Posted: Thu, 11 Apr 2013 by National Secular Society
By Anne Marie Waters
I've been hearing and reading a lot of debates recently about secularism; what it is, what it isn't.
There are several viewpoints flying around, lots of "militant" and other hyperbolic words; many designed, no doubt, to stir up trouble and... Read More »
Education for Choice launch report into abortion education in UK schools
Posted: Tue, 05 Feb 2013 by Education for Choice
Guest post by Education for Choice
Our new report 'Abortion Education in the UK: Failing our young people?' reveals the extent of poor-quality education on the topic of abortion.
Some teachers and external speakers delivering lessons on abortion have been found... Read More »
Ireland awaits Human Rights report on its abortion law
Posted: Tue, 28 Aug 2012 by Claire McCormack
By Claire McCormack
Ireland awaits a September report on its abortion laws by a European Court of Human Rights panel of experts at a time of rising political tensions over the issue and a backdrop of steep declines in the popularity of religion.
In Ireland ,... Read More »
The Catholic push for power is failing
Posted: Fri, 22 Jun 2012 by Terry Sanderson
Yesterday the Catholic Church in America began a campaign it calls "A Fortnight for Freedom" which it says is an effort to raise awareness among Catholics of the threats to their religious liberty. In particular they want to "raise awareness" about the Obama... Read More »
The Catholic Church is trying to flex its political muscle to humiliate Obama – but does it still have the strength?
Posted: Thu, 24 May 2012 by Terry Sanderson
Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York has ramped up the Catholic Church's politically motivated assault on the Obama administration by accusing the President of "strangling" religious freedom by requiring Catholic employers to provide workers with birth control... Read More »
Hitler, Stalin, Obama and a belligerent Catholic Church
Posted: Thu, 19 Apr 2012 by Terry Sanderson
The Catholic Church seems to be turning itself from being a religious body into being a rather unpleasant political party – one that is so reactionary it makes the Tea Party look like the Teddy Bears Picnic.
For instance, the Conference of Catholic Bishops... Read More »
The Catholic War on Democracy
Posted: Thu, 09 Feb 2012 by Terry Sanderson
At a Vatican meeting with Catholic bishops from the USA last month, the Pope told them that they had a duty to apply pressure on Catholic politicians to get Catholic doctrine written into law.
Ratzinger said: "The Church has a critical role to play in countering... Read More »
